Black Ice Audio

Explore Black Ice Audio

Black Ice Audio is the new name for Jolida.With final assembly performed in the US and critical parts like transformers sourced from Germany, tube manufacturer Black Ice Audio, formerly Jolida, has garnered an enviable reputation for high-performance products at real-world prices.

The new Black Ice products were designed by industry legend Jim Fosgate and take the new lines performance to a new level. They now can play with the big boys. These new products are not almost as good as products selling for 2-3 tmes their price. They ARE as good!!

The F-360 is high performance Vacuum Tube Hybrid Preamplifier with a flexible electronic approach to solving multiple issues of buffering the signal, controlling high and low frequencies, focusing or expanding your 3 dimensional image, and rear outputs for the option of creating an analog surround system. The letter F in the F 360 is in honor of the designer, Jim Fosgate (“Foz”). Foz’s electronic design experience and excellence spans decades and coupled with Jolida’s decades of manufacturing experience, results in a unit which can provide our client’s with excellent sound reproduction at a price far below what the competition offers. The 360 offers both XLR and RCA inputs and outputs as well as outputs for a mono or stereo subwoofer. It also has a full tape loop for external components or a legacy tape deck. And for those who want to go even further there is a set of outputs for rear stereo speakers. Jim has used an upgrade to the classic Cascode circuit design and added a MOSFET to give the musical performance of tubes with the speed and detail of current solid state designs. Unlike most tube equipment it can product a perfect square wave and uses zero negative feedback when the tone controls are off.

"It's been in my system now for several months, and I haven't been disappointed. Sound quality is superb, and the degree of sound tailoring is very appealing, especially the sound stage expansion that enhances the sense of depth and space, and the ability to add rear speakers for image reinforcement. The bass equalisation increases impact without boom, and can reduce any booming. I'm a big fan of the sound stage expansion which makes my listening more enjoyable, and I've enjoyed the ability to switch in or out the equalisation to tailor the presentation of the very wide range of recordings I have. The logic display visualises the signal phasing, revealing in phase and out of phase components, as well as left and right channels. When in stand-by mode, the unit can conveniently be switched on/off by touching the illuminated logo on the front panel, or with the remote handset. On this model, the remote control is a much more serious proposition - it's a substantial metal unit with a size and form factor that sits nicely in the hand (it weighs a reassuring 255 g, and is cold to the touch). I especially like that the preamplifier can be put into standby or muted from the handset. The pre-amp has a generous five inputs, and both unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) outputs, as well as a balanced input. It's designed to deliver musical accuracy, and driving my Viganoni & Viganoni Sachem V2 monoblocks into my floorstanding speakers, I have been enjoying a superbly clean and detailed music presentation that's big and spacious. It's a bit unusual nowadays to find a pre-amplifier with so much control, and having lived through the era of minimal controls for "purity", I must say that having choice over using a range of presentation controls is a strong added-value part of the F360's appeal. So is the 'classic' look of the front panel and knobs. I find it surprising that this unit isn't priced more like $ 3,500-4,000. But, then, what I've learned from my time with these products is that tube listening is delightful and that's the reality of the distinctive high performance-price ratio offer of the Black Ice Audio brand and its JoLida tube technology heritage. With Jim Fosgate's designs, that is a great proposition."

The Fusion DAC-Transport is a pure tube design with no op amps in a DAC for streaming that has a transport for CD playback as well. With a fully balanced circuit and six tubes in the signal path, this player will bring definition in clarity without any loss of smoothness. Add the magic of tubes to your system. Transparency and air without any sacrifice of richness. Parts are of first grade quality and Black Ice has taken the worry out of chip obsolescence. Should they upgrade the chips, it will be just a matter of changing the board. If you are looking for your last CD player this may be it. Isn't it time to see what tubes and a Hi-performance circuit will have on your digital music.

Here is a customer feedback:"Hi Walter, I just got my black ice fusion dac hooked up and, I decided that “Bridge” by Hiroko Kokubu would be a great 1st CD...my jaw almost hit the floor from the very first note. It made me realize (within seconds) how utterly sterile sounding both my Rega Planet 2000 and my Cambridge Audio Azur 650c (modded by Mapleshade/Omega micro) sounded. I’ve listened to many CD players and CD transport/DACs (one costing almost $5000) and this is, if memory serves, the most alive...the most “liquid” I’ve ever listened to. Simply amazing! My Thiel CS 3.6s are loving this! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Best Regards, WO

Back Story of the F 159: The author of the F159 is Jim Fosgate. Foz’s electronic design experience and excellence spans decades and coupled with Jolida’s decades of manufacturing experience, results in a unit which can provide our customers with a distinct improvement in turntable sound reproduction at an affordable price. In addition the phono pre-amplifier has a Fosgate designed Crosstalk Reduction Circuit (XT-R) which represents a distinctive electronic approach to solving crosstalk caused by a turntable’s cartridge and acoustic problems due to axial tilt. We have placed the name F159 to honor the designer who has built and tested 158 prototypes until finalizing his work in the 159th iteration. It is a classic Cascode circuit design and Jim has added a MOSFET to give the musical performance of tubes with the speed and detail of current solid state designs. Unlike most tube equipment it can product a perfect sine wave and uses zero negative feedback.

The Foz SS-X is a small box that does 4 things. They are:
1) Tube buffer
2) Bass Control
3) Soundstage Expander
4) Three position input switcher

For under $400.00 you a Jim Fosgate designed product that is pretty amazing. It will add some tube warmth to your system. It allows you to tailor the bass response of your system and it will expand or narrow your soundstage depending on yor musical selection. The initial review was superb and summed with:

"I have rarely had so much fun reviewing anything audio. I was like a kid in a candy store. Experimenting with three dimensional sound using the bass control and adjusting the stage between my speakers. Switching between different sources, bad recordings and wonderful recordings. All the time anticipating what I would hear if I added a little more warmth, a bit more bass or widened the stage of a live performance. My years long battle with the uneven acoustics of my small listening space has ended. The futile addition of sound shaping things on my walls, some reflective and some absorptive, black Argent Helmholtz pipes. Sticky backed foil things on speakers even a block of clear acrylic on top of my system to focus sound. If you can relate to the fight I fought and the money I wasted then you owe it to yourself to give the $400 Dollar SSX a try. I’m keeping it."
Semper Hi-Fi

The XT-R represents a distinctive electronic approach to solving crosstalk inherent in many turntable cartridges and acoustic problems due to axial tilt. The FOZ XT-R was designed by Jim Fosgate. Jim (Foz) Fosgate’s life long career in audio design represents decades of work on every possible circuit approach to car stereo, surround processors, tube amplifiers, preamplifiers, phono preamplifiers and other accessories. This wide array of designs have all been explored in depth, built, and auditioned by Foz. In coupling Foz’s XT-R design with Jolida’s decades of manufacturing experience; the result is a unit which can provide our customers with a distinct improvement in turntable sound reproduction at an affordable price.Foz has designed an elegant electronic circuit to effectively reduce crosstalk and axial tilt. The XT-R represents a breakthrough since axial tilt and crosstalk is compensated for electronically and does not use the traditional approach of physical adjustment to mitigate the problems. The XTR incorporates signal cancellation to reduce inter channel crosstalk. This is the same technique that is used in high separation surround processors. The XTR corrects for a misaligned stylus or cantilever, misaligned generator, misaligned tone arm azimuth (axial tilt). It also reduces crosstalk from cross coupling of the generator coils or tone arm wiring. This works with moving magnet, moving iron, and moving coil cartridges. The XT-R will compensate for up to 7 degrees of axial tilt and can improve crosstalk to a maximum of 40dB. The result will be an improvement in stereo imaging.

FX Headphone ampwith 12AX7's. $499

The FX HP amp is a great sounding affordable option for those looking for a quality affordable tube HP amp. It uses two 12AX7A vacuum tubes to drive a pair of headphones. There is a n ALPS audio potentiometer with, two sets gold plated RCA input jacks, one mini jack and one 1/4" phone plug. If has air, openness and richness even at low playing volumes. Adjustable bass and loudness switches add flexibility to get the sound you
want. It comes with a one year warranty and even 1000 hours on the tubes. Available in black or silver